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Oklahoma basketball: Buddy Hield in good spirits after surgery

The OU freshman guard broke a bone in his right foot on Monday. A visit from his high school coach, and being back at practice, did just as much good as surgery.

By Stephanie Kuzydym •
Published: February 12, 2013

NORMAN — His right foot was wrapped, but Buddy Hield's voice was still there.

“Let's go Red. C'mon White.”

Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield (3) hobbles off the court after injuring his right foot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against TCU in Norman, Okla., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Oklahoma won 75-48.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) ORG XMIT: OKSO112

“Nice shot, Steve. Great pass, Cam.”

Hield's bandaged foot extended in front of him on a chair as he bit into a sandwich on Tuesday. Not even 24 hours had passed since Hield fractured the fifth metatarsal — the outer bone — in his foot, leaving him out of the Sooners' lineup for the next four to six weeks. He was still groggy from the medicine from Tuesday morning's surgery, but the freshman was at practice.

It's where he wanted to be.

The Oklahoma guard has brought an energy that is unmatched by any of OU's players. Hield's injury pained his teammates. But the freshman realized that although he can't make shots on the court, he can still impact the team with his energy on the sidelines.

Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said film showed that Hield and a TCU defender ended up running toward each other, and Hield stepped on the Horned Frog's foot. The way he stepped, though, was odd and caused the injury.

After the game, Hield was devastated, and so were his teammates, but they quickly realized they would need to find a way to increase their energy.

So they're looking inside themselves to find it.

“We can't replace what Buddy does, but each one of us can give what Buddy does,” senior Sam Grooms said. “That will pick up our team.”

The news of Hield's injury spread quickly. His Sunrise Christian Academy basketball coach, Kyle Lindsted, was at his own practice in Wichita, Kan., when Hield's injury happened. One of the assistant coaches had occasionally been checking the score of the game from his phone and told Lindsted the news.